IT'S ALL ABOUT THE WING OR RATHER THE distinct lack of one. The Peugeot 9X8 made its debut in the World Endurance Championship in 2022, entering a small handful of rounds to complete its development programme ahead of a full assault on WEC and Le Mans glory this year. And while the car didn't trouble any podiums, its striking appearance attracted more attention than its rivals might care to admit.
And that has added importance as we enter what could well be a new golden era of endurance racing. One that kicks off - somewhat fittingly - as Le Mans marks its centenary year. There'll be more than a dozen competitors in WEC's new Hypercar class, with five major manufacturers behind the bulk of them, not least Ferrari and Porsche. Fast forward to 2024 and BMW, Lamborghini and perhaps even Honda will be in the mix, too. Ultimately only one can win and there'll be battered and bruised egos littering La Sarthe's pitlane come Sunday June 11. If history teaches us anything, though, it's that some of the most iconic race cars don't actually win. Standing out in a grid that's full to bursting with legendary names feels like half a victory already.
'We as engineers were a little surprised by the amount of interest!' admits Olivier Jansonnie, Peugeot Sport's technical director, when I bring up the wingless appearance of his team's new car. 'I think most of the talk we've had on this car regards the lack of wing, but quite frankly there's a few things on the car more innovative than this...'
Undeterred, I ask how it came about. 'We were exceeding the targets in the wind tunnel. So during one of the first tests we came up with the idea of removing the rear wing altogether. By the end of 2021 we had two prototypes running in parallel - one much closer to an LMP1 design, and this one.
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BEST BUYS BMW M CARS
THE PERFORMANCE CAR LANDSCAPE WOULD HAVE looked very different over the last five decades without BMW. Its M division, founded in 1972, has produced some of the best driver’s cars ever to hit the road, and in the process has provided a stream of benchmark models for its rivals to chase. In recent years, stricter emissions regulations, downsizing and electrification have seen some of those rival cars falter, yet by and large BMW’s M machines have remained strong. In fact, some rank among the greatest the department has made think of the eCoty-winning M2 CS and M5 CS while others are the only options worth recommending in their respective segments. Price tags have risen with performance, however, putting those latest offerings out of reach for many, but the marque’s popularity means there are numerous earlier M models available on the second-hand market for far more attainable figures. Here are four of our favourites.
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